Seed-cotton-distributing valve mechanism.



c. L.' OHSBORN.. SEED COTTON DISTRIBUTING VALVE WIECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22. l9l5 Lmmm mmm Da, 11, um.'

C. L. ORSBORN.

SEED COTTON DISTHIBUTING VALVE MECHANISM.

APPLICATONTILED MAR, 22.1915.

@tbox nag lC. L. ORSBOR'N.

wneoo 'Patented Dee. 11, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

S14/vento@ L tuvieran N erariale Parana* onirica.

. oALvIN L. onsisomv, or sELMAyhLABAMa.

hamaca.

To all whom maycoacera.|` l 9 Be it known that I, CALVIN L. ORsBoRN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Selma, in the county of Dallas andState of Alabama, `have invented certain new and useful improvements in SeedlCotton-Dis tributing Valve Mechanism, of which the a followingis` a specification. l

The present invention relates to improvements in seed cotton distributing valve l mechanism. f

In the ginning of cotton it is common to use two or more gins or two or more sets of gins. These gins are supplied with seed cotton by asuitable` conveying mechanism which is preferably of a pneumatic character such as is illustrated in thepresentap- .plication It is found convenient, in` operating such gins, to accumulate in a suitable chamber, knownas a `vacuum chamber a charge of cotton in its unginned condition, and then to eedthat charge to the gin's from one side tothe `other ofthe mechanism. In other words, if thismachine was set in the centerof six, eight or ten gins, it would alternately distribute a charge on the right and a charge on the left until thefeed was exhausted. Further, while the machine 'feeds the chargel to one side and then dumps, it distributes to all the vacuum chambers until the` other side is near-closed.` It distributes to all vacuum chambers at the same time, but it dumpsto only one side at a time automatically. Y v

To this end it is common to provide over each gin a vacuum chamber and to the-'sevacuum chambers is connectedan air duct common to all chambers. i

` It has been found yditlicult to properly regulate the filling of the vacuum chambers but thisV difliculty vmay be obviated bythe use of such apparatus as is disclosed in the present invention. Y

The objects of this invention are, there# fore,

First, the provision of a seed cotton distributing valvemechanism, which can be applied to the usual pneumatic elevator for cotton gins, and which will cause an even and uniform distribution of the `seed cotton to the different vacuum boxes for the several Second, the provision of aV seed cotton. distributing valve mechanism,which will pro- SEED-COTTON-DSTRIBUTING VALVE `1VIECHANISM.

` a Specification of Letters Patent. i Patented Dec., CML, 191W'. Application med March e2, 1915. seriaiuo. 16,181. 'i

boxes of the several gins, and by proper control of ksuch valve mechanism `to effect the distribution of the seed cotton `1n suchman ner that a greater quantity of the seed "cot-v ton is `fed in a given time to the vacuum boxes which commhunlicate withthe gills;

Third, the provision of a mechanism such as above referred to, which will give an alternate movement to the valves, said Vmovement capable of` `shifting the/entire feed of seed cotton yfrom its source of sup-" of such number, the valves will standfopenV for a time thereby` equally dividing theen` tire feed of cotton to all of the vacuum boxes; V i

F ifth, to provide means, whereby upon the operation of ahand lever these valves will be thrown out of gear and permitted tostand open foranydesirablelength of time without stopping the operation of the mechanism, thus enabling a new supply of seed cotton to be immediatelyelevated and stored equally in all' the vacuum chambers while the previous charges that have passed through the valves are being ginned out.

Sixth, to provide means whereby a'hand lever can be operated that will control a valve located between the seed *cotton` dis? tributing mechanism` and the exhaust fan of the system, so as to cut oli" the suction from the vacuum boxes of the gins and permit the seed cotton to drop to the gins, after which this valve can be opened and thus permit the passage of the pneumaticv suction of the exhaust fan to the vacuum boxes and a new supply of seed cotton to be immediately elevated and stored `up e in` the vacuum boxes, while the cotton that was dropped to the O'ins by the closing of this valve, is being ginned out;

' such as above referred to, which will be coinpa-ratively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, reliable and eiiicient in use and readily operated, it being understood that "various minor changes in the specific Ydetails ofconstruction can be resorted to with- "jffint'he scope of the appended claims, without departing from thespirit or sacrificing' any of the advantages.

l'VVithth'e above and other objects in view.'

rr`,ithe'present 'invention resides in the novel 'gf'eatiires'of construction, formations, com# binations and' arrangements'of parts, to be hereinafter more Vfully j described, claimed Aand illustrated in the accompanying sheets vof drawings, forming a part of'tliis Aapplication; 'and in which:

Figure l'is a side elevation of the inven- Ltion withparts in section;

Fig.` 2 is an end view thereof with parts in "section andbroken away;

Fig. Sis an enlarged sectional view illus- :trating one of the gate valves;

""3 Fig. 4 isa view illustrating a fragmentary andenlarged 'section of theoperating mecha- 'iiisniof one ofthe 'gate valves and the means for throwing the same out of operative position;

5`is a similar view showing the means for releasing the cross-head i f Fig. 6` isa horizontal sectional view takenv on the line VI-'VI of Fig. 2 on a reduced scale"and the invention.`

y"sheet's' of drawingsbysimilar characters of Fig. 7'isan enlarged sectional lview taken on line VII-VII of Fig. 2.

:"Fig". Sis a` transverse vertical vsection of a vacuum chamber or boX used in connection j Referring "to the accompanying three "reference throughout the=`scveral views, the l"numeral 10 denotes ingeneral, my improved mechanism, includi'ng'the vacuum chambers 11 and airy chambers or ducts 12 which extend from the opposite sides thereof and connect with the vacuum'chambers 11. The

vacuum-chambers have communication with actton supply by means of the flue r13 while the' air chambers connect to a suction flue shown at"14*and"lead'through the extension W5-,to a'` suction or exhaust fan, not shown.

The flues 11 andi-12V are controlled by the 'ga'te valves 16416 and 17-17 while the flue 14 is'cont'rolled byf tliegate valvev 1.9, as.

shown in Figs. 1', 2`and Gfr ventilating'port 21 formed'tlierein, which is l'controlledby a-v'alve 22. LThe valves 19 and formed upon its-opposite end.

22 are arranged and connected in such manner, as indicated in Fig. 1, that when one is opened the other will be closed. To this end, astandard 23 is mounted upon the upper side of the flue 14 and has .journaled in its upper forked eiid 24 a sprocket wheel 25 over which a chain 26 is passed in engage nientwitlifthe teeth of the said sprocket wheel. The opposite ends of this chain 2G are attached to the upper endsof the valves 19 and 22.

l.Guides 27 yand 28 are provided for the valves 19 and 22 to operate in, while secured to the valve 19 is a bracket 29 to which is pivotally connected a vertically movable operating rod 30. The lower end of this rod 30 is pivotally connected as at 31 to the iip- ,per Afree end of a T-shaped lever 32, the op 'posite end of which is pivoted as at 33 to a bracket 34 preferably attached to the under side of the flue 18. The depending end 35 of the lever 32 is pivoted as at 36 to one end of an operating rod 37 having a handle 88 This lever has spaced sets of notches 39 and 40 pro- 1 vided in its lower edge for engagement with a locking device 41 provided with a tooth 41a arranged -toselectively engage in said notches'. When the operating rod 37 is in theposition shown in Fig. 1, with the lock` ing device 41 iii engagement with the notches 39,tlie valve 19 is invits open position and the valve-22 `in its closed position which arrangement produces a suction throughout the eiitiie system of iiues. "When, however,

tlierod 37 is moved so that the teeth 40 are in engagement with the locking device 41,

'the -valve 19 will be in its closed position,

which shuts off the suction from the system of iiues andthe valve 22 opened which acts "as a seal for the flue 15 aiidpermits the fan (not shown) to be used as a blower for any desired purpose such as blowing seeds to bins, cars, stock houses and the like, to any V*reasonable distance desired.

fines and at their upper ends by the upper horizontal bars 44. Intermediate and lower horizontal bars 4G and 4G are' connected to the uprights 43.

Shafts 47, 4S, 49 and 50 are journaled upon bars 46 intermediate of bars 46 and each of said shafts has keyed thereto interniesliing large and small gears 51 and 52 (see Fig. 1) which reduce the speed of the shafts from 47 to 50 respectively. A pulley 53 is keyed to the shaft 47 and has a belt 54 engagingthe same which leads to any `suitable source of power, whereby a conftiniious rotary motion Ycanbe imparted to the shaft 47 and thence through the 'gears 51 andu52 to theshaft 50.

.i Gujdesg.- and 5.6 are vmounted inthe 13o "frame work 42 and slidably `receivexand sup- `portthe sliding blocks 57 and 58. rIfhese the connecting rods59 and 60which extend from thediametricallyoppositely arranged crank arms 61` and-62 at the ends ofthe shaft 50 as shown in Fig. 2. 1v

Trip rodsv 63 and 64, Vsee Figs.y 2,4and 5, i are secured to the blocks 57 and58 and de-` pend therefrom, `terminating at their lower ends in shouldered heels65 Vand 66 and outwardly slantingtoes 67 and 68. These heels 65 and 66 areadapted to engage the upper horizontal flanges 69 of the cross heads 70 and 71,.which are connected to thevertical 4valve stems 7 2: and 73 of the'valveslGand 17, respectively, Vthe connections being such as 1to permitfree downward movement ofw the crossy fheads with respect to .the stems so :that `the valves close by gravity and at all times may `properly seat. `:ln order to effect such a connection eachlcr'oss head ris `provided withspaced ears 71ZL fthrough which the respective valve stems` slide, such stemsbeing each provided at 4this upper end with a collar 72a held on the stem by a nut 72?.

Upon the rotation of the shaft 50,the `blocks 57 and 58 `will bealternately raised and lowered, which operation also raises and lowers the trip rods 63 and 64. As these rods 63 and 64 are lowered, the heels 65 and 66 will, `under usual conditions, engage the flangesA 69 of the cross heads 70 and 71, thereby forcing the latter downwardly and permitting closing of the `valves16 and 17 in their proper order. When, however, the rods 63 and 64 respectively, reach the lower limit oftheir movement the -toes 67 and 68 will engage properly arranged lugs 68 supported in bars 46, andbeforced outwardly,

releasing the respective heel 65 or66fromv 16 or 17'carried thereby free to move upwardly. o Y.

.In order to provide for!V the upward movement of the cross heads and71 and `valves 16 andl 17 chains 74 yand 75 are at tached to the cross heads 70 and 71 as shown at 76. These chains 74 and 75 pass over the pulleys 77 and 78 journaled on stub shafts 79 which extend from the bars 45. Weights 80 are attached to the lower endsy of the chains 74 and 75 and are greater in weight `head being in position for lrengagement by the-respective rod 63 or64.

-. Inorderthat the-frods-63 and64canbe journaled in the frame 42 and `have oppo` sitely disposed arms 83 and 84 keyed thereto, which are connected by a link 85 for .the a purpose of causing the rotation ofthe shaft 81upon the rotation ofthe shaft 82. `To providefor the rotation of these shafts 81 and` 82, an arm 86 extends from the-shaft 82 and has pivoted to its free end, as at 87, an operating rod 88 provided at its lower end with a y handle`89 and provided adjacent the same -with notches 90 for `engagement with a lock-j ing device 91 by meansof which the rod 88 ...can belocked in its upper or lowerposition. Pawls`92` and 93 arekeyed tothe shafts "81 and82,respectively, and are disposed adj acentthe paths .ofthewbars 63 and'64 being sufficiently close that rotation of the shafts 81 and 82 causes movement of the ends of these pawlsinto contact with the rods.: Ob-

and 82 through the medium of the rod\88,` the pawls 92 and 93 will be swung outwardly .and force the lowerv ends of the rods 63 and 64outwardly, so that the heels 65 and 66 will pass over the flanges 69 ofthe cross heads 7() and 71 without engaging the same and. `permit the blocks 57 and 58 to be lowered without operating the valves 16 or 17 ,L thus leaving all of said valves open as shown -in In order to provide against leakage at the points whereby any of thegate valves'pass through the flues, paclrings 94may `be seated in recesses `95provided in the upper sides of the said flues, as shown for example in F ig.

3. The packings areheld in placeby plates 96 which areheld in engagement vwith the upper sides thereof by wing nuts 97. Similar packings 98 are seated in recesses 99 proi vided in the lower sides of the flues and are provided with V-shaped grooves 100 to en-` gage theV-shaped edges of the gate valves'. 1 Inoperation when the fan is started the valve 19 is normally open andthe valve 22 closed. At thev same time that thefan is started the mechanism operating the belt 54 is started. The gearing is so arranged that `thelcharge in one vacuum chamber will be completely ginned during one-half revolution ofthe crank shaft 50, the belt being connected to the gin in any suitable manner,` `not shown, toeffect this purpose. The result of this will `be that the 'valves v16will be closed fora short period of time while the gin beneath the left hand vacuum chamber 11 is receiving its charge, see Fig. 6. -Mean. while the right'hand,vacuumchamber"11, will be in communication with the seed cottonsupply flue 1-3 and the ,suction duct 15,

l the air chamber or duct 12 on the right hand communicating with the right handvacuurn` ijchamber- 11sothatnits contents: may all-x'prising oppositelydisposed vacuum or cot- 15rtion1with. the'rightthand duct 11,-by'the'raisf sitely disposed air chambers adjacent to the @a zl'rchamber v11 through a screenlla. which is-ltrollingf the chambers, operating means for Acommon to such `devicesfand` which is con-moving-'the valves downwardly to a closed -istructed and arranged as shown-for example --position, meansfor releasing the valves from lin Fig.. 8,2 and: operated as described and the operating means, means for automati- =shownwin -my ormerfj U. VS. Patent-'No cally raising the valves after their release 70 Y 1,051,439? Whentbe right handchamber ll-from the operating means, and means for .zhasbecome'illed'with its charge, the crankxdisengaging and rendering the operating "'f'sliaftwillhavevrevolved so,1 as to close vthe means inoperative.

valves 17 ,land thereby cut oft such right hand '5, 'An apparatussuch asdescribed, comminto" themginr onthef right., Meantime, the ton receiving chambers,l a valve for control- @empty left hand" Chamber 11, willrhave been y.lingeach of said cotton receiving chambers, a f yplaced-inconnectionwith the supply'flue 13 #supply flue communicating with said vacu- V.andfsuctionduct 15, asdescribed inconnec- `um or cotton receiving. chambers, oppoof 1the :valves 16, softhat its chamber 11, #vacuum or cotton receiving chambers, the wi-ll nows be *lled Thusthe: cham-1 air chamber on one side communicating with Lbers@ll,r1.1,lwill -be alternatelyll-ied*andfi-thecotton. receiving orvacuum chamber on -i=`emptied,fas the valves* '16. andi-417 are?A the same side, avalve for each-of said air 25' described. s

-1330-fr What Iffolaim is:

2,01alt'errrately closed lfor vashOrt -time-f'toper- :chambers controlling `the communication belimit the seed cotton to drop" into the gins, tween-:theair chamber and vacuum or cotv1,andialternately'Y opened for allonger period` tonreceiving chamber on the same side, and ""of timejtofelevate the seed cottonl to be later a suction-flue connnunicating with the op- !fdischarged or dropped into the :gins as just` vpositely `disposed air chambers between the valves controlling the communication be se `'From the-foregoing itl-will be manifest .tween the air and vacuum or cotton receivthat afseed` cotton'distributing valve=mecha ing chambers. aijnismis'providedfwhich will 'fulfil all of the 6. An apparatus such as described, com- *r-.fnecessary requirements of-such adevice. prising oppositely disposed vacuum or cot- Y, ton receiving chambers, a valve for control-l g5 1 11u-Ina device of'thekindfdescribed, a plui ling each of said cotton receiving chambers, v rality of -vacuum chambers adaptedv vto real supply flue communicating with said vacuceive seed cotton,"suctionmeans connected to um or cotton receiving chambers between said vacuum chambers, oppositely upwardly the-valves controlli-ng the vacuum or cotton and downwardlyzmovlingvalves arranged to receiving chambers, oppositely disposed air ma f alternatelycut off saidchambers from the chambers adjacent to the vacuum or cotton vacuum meansgmeans it'or operating said receiving chambers, the air chamber on one *valves'l'and manually controlled 'means' ari side communicating with the cotton receivrangedztozengage and 'render-the valve oper- :ring or vacuumchamber on the same side, a

40Wfatingfmeans ineffective. Y valve vfor each of said air chambers control-A 1o5 v2.The1 combination with a pluralityof lling? theI communication between the air Aseed cotton receiving chambers, of upwardly @chamber and vacuum or cotton receiving -vanddownwardly moving valvescontrolling 'v chamber on the same side, a suction Hue said: chambers, means for` actuating the communicating with the oppositely disposed valves'toA a Iclosedposition, means lfor releasair chambers between the valves controlling` 11o :ingr the'v valves from fthe actuating means thecommunication between the air and vacu- *rclosingthe valves, means for Vreturning the um or cotton receiving chambers, and a valve #valves to 'openl position by action of gravity, insaid suction flue controlling the exhaust r* a suction flue in ycommunication withthe-seed or vacuum in the air chambers,

' 50 cottonfchambers, saidsuction Hue having a -7. An apparatus such as described, comy 115 vent'port' therein and means for alternately uprising oppositely disposed vacuum or cot- Alopening'and'closing-the suction flue and vent `ton receiving chambers, a valve for controlc port, 4 ling each of said cotton receiving chambers,

S.' In anapparatus such f as described, a a supply flue communicating with said vacuplurality of cotton yreceiving chambers, a um or 'cotton receiving chambers betweeny 120 fsuction fluein communication therewith, upthe valvescontrolling the vacuum or cotton Vwardly vand downwardly moving valves conreceiving chambers, oppositelv disposed air trolling the chambers, meansengaging the f ychambers adjacent to the vacuum or cotton valves vfor moving-them downwardly to a receiving chambers, the air chamber on one i 601 closed1V position, means for releasing! the side communicating with the cotton receiv-- 125 i valves, and means for automatically return- 'ingor vacuum chamber on the same side, a fing the :valves-to raised'position. valvefor each of said air chambers control- 'n-lman-.apparatus such'iasjdescribed, a l"'lingw'the-communication -between the air :plurality'of cotton-:receivingchambers, upchamber and vacuum or cotton= receiving fawardly and downwardly-moving-valvescon-f chamberon Ifthe Esamei side, a` suction flue 13 imanes @ammieangwith th Onweer diaree air Chambers between the valves controlling the communication between the airl and vacuum or cotton Vreceiving chambers, and

meansv for alternatelyfopening and closing the valves controlling the oppositely 'disposed air Vand vacuum or 'cotton receiving trolling the communication between the airV chamber and vacuum or cotton receiving chamber on the same side, a suction flue communicating with the oppositely disposed air chambers between the valves controlling Vthe communication between the air and vacuum or cotton receivmg chambers, means for alternately opening and closing the valves controlling the oppositely disposed air and vacuum or cotton receiving chambers, and means for disengaging the valve actuating means and making the same inoperative.

9. In a device of the kind described, a plurality of vacuum chambers, suction means normally connected to said vacuum chambers, valves controlling the connections between said chambers and suction means, means to alternately close said valves including a trip mechanism, and a manually controllable device for rendering the operation of the `trip mechanism ineffective and thereby permitting all of said valves to remain open. i

10. lin an apparatus such as described, a plurality of seed cotton receiving chambers, valves controlling said chambers, a suction Hue in communication with'the seed cotton chambers, said suction flue having a vent opening therein, valves controlling the suction flue and vent opening, an operative connection between the valves whereby they will alternately open and close the suction flue and vent opening, an operating rod connected to one of said valves, and means for ac-A tuating the rod to operate said valves, and mean for locking the valves against movement.

11. In an apparatus such as described, a plurality of oppositely extending cotton receiving chambers, valves controlling said a chambers, valve stems connecting the valves of the oppositely extending chambers in series, a shaft, arms extending from the shaft,

`a pairl of guides, oppositely operating blocks j romtngdthe Slaaf@ means carriedfb7 ,the blocks and engaging thevcross heads "for 1slidable in the guides, an operative coniieci 'tion between 'the bloclisand arms, means for closingsaid valves, means `for disengaging ,the meansfcarried bythe blocks" from""the cross lieads,l land meansn fori returning theA valves ,to raised positionupon their releasei` 12j. j Infa'n apparatus such as described, la:`

plurality of oppositely extending cotton receiving chambers, valves controlling said l chambers, cross heads converting the valves controlling the oppositely extending cham- `be'rsin` Aseries,`g`^i`iides disposed" adjacent the chambers, blocks slidable in the guides, means for sliding said blocks in opposite directions, operating bars carried by said blocks and having heels formed at the lower ends thereof for engaging the cross heads, and outwardly slanting toes, whereby upon the downward movement of the blocks the valves will be moved to closed position, means disposed in the path of the toes for moving the bars outwardly and disengaging the heels from the cross heads and releasing the valves, and means for raising said valves upon their release from the operating bars. Y

13. Inan apparatus suoli as described, a plurality of cotton receiving chambers, a frame disposed above said chambers,oppo sitely operating valves controlling the chambers, a shaft journaled in the frame, means for rotating the shaft, guides mounted in the frame, blocks slidably mounted inthe guides, an operative connection between the blocks and shaft for alternately operating the blocks, cross heads connecting the valves ofveach oppositely operating series, operating bars secured tothe blocks and having heels at their lower ends for engaging the cross heads and moving the valvesto closed position, outwardly slanting toes extending` from the heels, blocks disposed in the paths of the toes for engaging the latter and moving the heels out of engagement from the cross heads, and means for returning the valves to `raised position.

14. ln an apparatus such as described, a frame, cotton receiving chambers extending from the frame, valves controlling the chambers, cross heads connecting the valves in series, operating bars movable in the path of the cross heads for engagement therewith, means for actuating the bars, shafts journaled in the frame, means for rotating the shafts and pawls carried by the shafts and disposed in the paths of the bars for engagement therewith, whereby upon the rotation of the shafts, the pawls will force the bars out of the path of the cross heads.

15. A seed cotton distributing apparatus comprising a plurality of seed cotton receiving chambers, a seed cotton feed suction Hue normally` in communication with the ina seedeotton lreqeiying chambers, a; valve for eachpf, sadv, seed cotton ,receiving `charrlbers`v v. controlling.itsv communication withl the seed cotiso'nV-,feedl suction ',lue, a plurality of v5 yaerlumchamberseaoh oneof which is n- Vcomme)glieation with .its .o corresponding cote torrrecevng chamber, .a suctionllerlorV4 mally inv communication with,I said I.vacuum chambers, a valVeQfor each ofsad :vacuum 10ehamberis.controlling. its `co,mII11mc`ato1-1 withl the-E suctionV flue. and A means for' operating, the Yyalvesr Controlling the yeommuncav tion..jibetweengeoevng chambers. and feed tion lwith thefcottonfeed ysuction Hue and all of Ithe vacuum chambers are `in communication with xthe suction Hue.

In `testimony whereof I ax my signature n presence of two Witnesses.

CALVINI L. ORSBORN Witnesses 4J. A, EULLER, E.- W. PETTUS.-

v cents each, vby, addressing the Commissioner ofratents, Washington, 1). C!)

suctonilueand `loegxvveezrr the vacuum: chamf A bers arldsuctlon flue whereby all of the cot-f tolr recel-Vmg *chambers Iare 1n communlca-` 

